Life in the drive-thru lane

School's almost out. You know the drill. It's time to get a summer job. You may have fond memories of your Julys manning the register at the local Pup 'n Fry, but what about today's teenage workforce? What's it like to work to be a kid working his or her first fast-food job in 2010? We asked some teenage colleagues at our sister paper, tb-two*, to dish on their places of work.

Pros: Free ice cream; nothing more manly than an apron and a visor; you always smell like fudge; unlimited power you wield over just how many rainbow sprinkles go into that ice cream.

Cons: Being bossed around by 4-year-old girls; nothing less manly than an apron and a visor; guilty feeling when you realize just how much sugar you're pumping into America's youth; like a hobo street musician, you sing for tips.

— Sam French

CHICK-FIL-A

Who's got the job: Jackie Spradlin, Durant High ('09)

Cha-ching: Minimum wage ($7.25 an hour)

Uniform: The black pants are a little more slimming than most uniforms, the stripe on the shirt is more stylish, and the V-neck keeps you from choking.

Pros: If you like people-watching, that's a pro. The other day, there was this guy who came up from Liverpool. He was really cute and had an amazing accent. But of course, he left for Liverpool. And a 50 percent discount if you're not on the clock. If you are working, the food is free.

Cons: Every time you leave work, you smell like chicken. But that can be a pro if guys like the smell of chicken, because food is the way to a guy's heart. It's never worked for me, but …

— Kelly Price

TACO BELL

Who's got the job: Ebony Lamar, Gibbs High

Cha-ching: $7.75 an hour.

Uniform: Name tag, all black collared shirt, black cargo pants, black shoes, black hair net and a black hat that makes you very hot while cooking.

Pros: Lots of hours make a great paycheck; blessing my friends with discounts; eating the tacos while bored when there are no customers; and eligibility for the employee student scholarship toward any two- or four-year college.

Cons: Cooking raw meat; going home with the disgusting smell of grease oozing from my pores; the woman who comes in every Thursday to order the burrito; and the kid who takes forever because he can't decide what to order.

Uniform: Black polo, khaki pants, black shoes, sweet/sweaty Panera hat (whichever way you want to interpret it) and a black belt, like in karate but not as cool. Be sure that belt is on tightly, customers see everything.

Pros: Being able to take Linda Hogan's lunch order, getting free sandwiches that are made by mistake, learning about the quality of bread, hearing classical music all of the time, getting up at the crack of dawn to put on a happy smile for all of the customers who are just as happy to be up at the crack of dawn, and of course, going to Bread Bashes!

Cons: Always going home with chocolate syrup located somewhere on your body, being surrounded by good food that makes you hungry, the occasional burn from the toaster oven or panini steamer, hearing classical music all of the time, and getting up at the crack of dawn to put on a weary smile for all of the customers who do not want to be awake at the crack of dawn either.